Xbox consoles reduce download speeds while you play a game to reduce disruptions to network functionality or multiplayer performance. While the download is currently faster when the Xbox is asleep, Microsoft will soon allow players to increase their download speed while the console is still on with a new “Pause My Game” option in Xbox Download -Manager.
According to Eden Marie, Xbox’s technical director, selecting “Pause My Game” will stop the bandwidth your games are using and instead allow your downloads to run at full speed.
You can always resume your gameplay if you’d rather keep playing and keep your downloads running in the background. Xbox Series X / S users can even use the console’s Quick Resume to retrieve the exact time the game was paused.
Suspend my game is available in the latest Xbox Insider Program dashboard update for Xbox Series X / S and Xbox One. You can download it Xbox Insider Hub app from the Microsoft Store to join the Insider Program and test the function early on. However, it will be available on all Xbox Series X / S and Xbox One consoles in the coming weeks.
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How to pause games on Xbox to increase download speed
To use the new Stop My Game download boosting feature once it’s available on your Xbox console:
- Press the Xbox button on your controller to open the guidance menu.
- Go to My games & apps> Show all> Manage> Queue.
- On the Manage Queue page, select the option “Hang on my game.” Your console’s download speed will automatically increase.
- When the downloads are complete, you can pick up where you left off.
Xbox Insiders may be able to try cool things like “Suspend my game” early on, but Microsoft is constantly adding new features to their consoles for all users. The last monthly update adds a new one FPS boost mode this increases the frame rates for backwards compatible games on Xbox Series X / S, fixes some long-lasting bugs when disconnecting the controller, and more. Assure yourself Your system will be updated regularly.